Ditching machine



May 20, 1924. 1,495,012

0. FRECHETTE DITQHING MACHINE Filed May 31 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 0- F/PFOQ ETT May 20, 1924. 1,495,012

0. FREICHETTE DITCHING MACHINE Filed May 51, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet Z Ifive'n'tm".

May 20, 1924.

, O. FRECHETTE DITCHING MACHINE Filed May 1, 1922 5 Sheets-$heet 3 Filed May 51 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 o o o Q O O O O O O o O a v 0 40 O 4d L 1 E3 Patented May 20, 1924.

ONESIIVIE FRECHETTE, OF ST. MALO, MANITOBA, CANADA.

7 DITCHING MACHINE.

Application filed May 31, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ONESIME FREGHETTE, of the village of St. M'alo, in the Province of Manitoba, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ditching Machines, of which the following is the specification.

The invention relates to improvements in ditching machines and an object of the invention is to provide a machine for cutting ditches at the side of a roadway, the ma' chine being arranged so that it will make a out along the side of the roadway, first in one direction and then in the other.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine, the complete operation of which can be controlled by a single operator and which is arranged so that it is readily steered in any direction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine having an adjustable conveyor associated with the scoops and adapted to receive and discharge the dirt dug by one or other of the scoops, depending on the direction of travel of the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide .an adjustable ejector associated with the discharging end of the conveyor which will receive the dirt discharged from the conveyor and forcibly throw and dis tribute the same over the roadway.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flexible ditching machine which will accommodate irregularities in the road surface and whilst not interfering with the setting or operating of the. scoops and the conveyor associated therewith.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ditching machine having a pair of opposed scoops delivering to a common conveyor and with the scoops supported so that they can be adjusted at the will of the attendant in respect to the ground on which they are operating.

\Vith the above more important and minor objects in view, which will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts hereinafter more particularly described and later pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine.

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof.

Serial No. 564,759.

Fig. 3 is a side view of a portion of the machine.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed vertical sectional view transversely through the ma-. chine, the section being taken at.4 4' Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 j is an enlarged detailed vertical sectional view through the conveyor, the section being taken at 55 Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed vertical sectional view through the conveyor at 6-6 Fig. 4. j i Y Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional View at 7- -7' Fig. 6.

v F 8 is an enlarged detailed vertical sectional view at 88 Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectionalview at 99"Fig. 8. i i

Fig. .10 is an enlarged detailed vertical sectional view at 1010.Fig. 2;

Fig. 11 is a horizontal sectional view at 11-11 Fig. 10. j

Fig. 12 is an enlarged detailed. side view of the worm and worm wheel utilized for adjusting the scoops.

Fig.- 13 is a vertical sectional view at l3-13 Figure 4.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures. v

The end frames 1 and 2 of the machine are stationary and rigid. Said frames. are identically constructed and each comprises a lower horizontally disposed beam-3,,an up-. per horizontally disposed beam 4, a vertically disposed guide 5 connecting the beams at the ditch side of the machine, a vertically disposed connecting beam 6 at the road side of the machine, reinforcing angle braces 7 and 8 and reinforcing intersecting braces 9 and 10,- the various parts being rigidly attached one to the other by riveting through corner plates provided. The guide 5 is constructed from an opposed spaced pair of vertically extending channel irons 11 and 12 and pairs of spaced guide plates 13 and '14 attached to the flanges of the channel irons, the spaces between the plates formingvertically extending slots 15 which receive and guide the parts later described.

By observing Fig. 9 it will be seen that; the guides are reallysubstantially rectangular open centered" columns havingopposed side slots in'the sides thereofn r The ends of the-end frames, carry. vertically provided with outstanding swinging axles 16 and 17 on which I- mount steering wheels 17 and 16. Pairs of steering cranks 18 and 18 also extend from the spindles and the pairs of cranks are connected by forward and rearconnecting bars 18 and 18 The end frames are connected together by a bottom frame 19 which comprises similar end sections formed from four beams having their outer ends permanentl attached as indicated at 20 to the end frames and Within the open centres of the guides 5 at the ditch side of the machine 1' locate combined guide and bearing spools 24: which are adapted to move upwardly and downwardly Within the guides and which are transversely bored to receive pivot-ally stub shafts 25 permanently secured to the ends of a main beam 26 passing between the end frames. This main beam 26 supports the scoops and the ditch side of the conveyor as later described.

The lower beams 3 of the end frame each carry at the road side of the machine a guide block 27 and the guide blocks receive combined guide and bearing spools 28 which are mounted so that they can rotate within the blocks or move bodily endwise within the same a predetermined distance. The spools 28 receive pivotally aligned stub shafts 29 and 29 permanently secured at the opposite ends of a vertically disposed road side frame 30.

The roadside framecomprises end spans 31 and 32 and a central substantially rectangular span 33, such being more or less in the form of a Howe truss and the lower frame members of the central span provide a bearing for a centrally positioned pivot pin 34: which supports an open centred car- .rier frame 35, the carrier frame being formed from two similar suitably connected parts which span the central span 33 above mentioned. v

The carrier frame is reinforced by upper and lower pairs of brace bars 86 and 37 etc tending between the carrier frame and the main beam 26 and attached pivotally to the main beam as indicated at 38.

To the main beam 26 I secure a beam 39 which has the body part thereof spaced from hand parallel to the main beam. The beam scoops are provided with shares 42 which can be removed from time to time and sharpened as occasion requires.

The ditch end of the inclined conveyor 4:3 is suitably supported from the main beam 26 and is braced from the scoops (see Fig ures 6 and 7) and the road side end of the conveyor is carried by a bale bar 44 supported by a winding chain 45 attached to a chain. wheel 46, the chain Wheel being permanently secured to a winding shaft 47 carried by suitable standards 48 and 19 mounted more or less centrally on top of the carrier frame 35. A worm wheel 50 is secured to the shaft 47 and is engaged by a worm 51. the worm being operated by intermeshed bevel pinions 52 and An operating shaft 54- is connected through a universal joint indicated at 54- with the bevel pinion 53 and the shaft is provided also with a hand wheel 55. The conveyor comprises similar side frames 56 and 57 suitably interconnected and the side frames of the conveyor support a series ofsuitably spaced small rollers and a comparatively large end roller 59. A carrier belt 60 passes around the rollers and the belt is adapted to receive and discharge the dirt dug by the scoops. Suitable means are provided for tightening the belt.

Here it will be observed that the bottoms of the scoops overhang the-edges of the belt and are inclined adjacent the belt to accommodate the same. it being understood that the lower ends of the scoops are parallel to the road. The side frames of the conveyor towards the road side end carry two spaced parallel. transversely extending top beams 61 and 62 which are supported also from the main beam 26 and on the beams 61 and 62 I locate. a platform 68 which carries an internal combustion engine 64 of any approved type. A driving belt 65 connects theto the arms 71 and. 72 and cranks 77 and 78 extending from a cross shaft 79 carried by the beams 61 and ,62. A further crank 80 is attached to the shaft 79 and is connected by an adjusting line 81 to a lever 82 mounted on the platform, the lever being provided with the customary hand latch and detent, the detent operating over a quadrant 83.

Angularly disposed brace bars 84 and 85 extend between the beams 61 and 62 and the main beam 26. The beam 39 and the beam 26 support the operators platform 86 which is located immediately above the ditch end of the conveyor.

To the projecting ends of the stub shafts '25 of the main beam I attach straps 87 'which are supported by winding chains 88 extending upwardly and attached to chain wheels 89 mounted on comparatively short shafts 89 carried in suitable bearings formed in the standards extending upwardly from the upper beams 4c of the end frames. A worm wheel 90 is also secured to secured to each shaft 89 and the worm wheels in each instance are meshed with worms 91 which are directly under the control of controlling shafts 92 passing over towards the operating platform 86 and fitted with hand wheels'93.-, The end' frames 1 and 2 of the machine'carry vertically disposed steering posts 94-and 95 and to the lower end of each post I attach a crank 96 which is pivotally secured in each instance to the steering bar 18 and 18 A worm wheel 97 is secured to the upper end of each steering post and is meshed in each instance with a worm 98, the worm being directly under the control of an operating shaft 98 passing over towards the operators platform and provided at the platform with a hand wheel 98*.

By observing Figure 1 it will be seen that there are five hand wheels conveniently grouped adjacent the operators platform so that he can readily control the various operations of the machine from this point. The lever 82 is also within convenient range of the attendant.

Universal joints are provided adjoining the worms in all the operating shafts and the ends of the said shafts which are fitted with hand wheels are all supported by swinging arms 99 which permit the said shafts to fluctuate and accommodate the various adjusted positions of the machine parts. a

The machine can be moved in either direction along the roadway, cutting first in one direction and then the other and can be steered as desired by manipulating the hand wheels 98*. It is intended that the machine be pulled by a tractor operating on the roadway. j i

The attendant adjusts the scoops to the cut by manipulating the-hand wheels 93 which controls the position of the main beam26 carrying the scoops. He can also adjust the road side end of the conveyor up and down by manipulating the hand wheel '55 and the ejector is controlledthrough the adjustment of the lever 82. i

I wish particularly to pointout that, the

machine as a whole is particularly flexible to allow it to adjust itself to any irregularities in the road surface, and whilst permitting the attendant to set the scoops as he wishes.

Either end of the beam 26 can be adjusted independently of'theother as provided for in the special bearingswhich operate in the guides. I Further, any rocking action of the end frames is provided for in the pivoting arrangement of the 7 reach. The roadside frame can also, swivel in respect to the end frames and can adjust itself by a sliding movement of the spools 2-8 to accommodates any adjustment made in the main beam. The roadsideend :77

of the conveyor, being adj ustably supported and suspended by the chain from the carrier frame, is not molested. by any swinging movement of the roadside frame as the road 34. The arrangement provided allows the shafts 25, 29 and 29 to pull out of the'bearings, carrying them a limited amount to accommodate the adjustment made in the machine.

It is believed that the above short description of the various adjustments provided will be sufficient to give a clear understanding of the flexibility of the machine which permits it to operate with success on all road surfaces which it may encounter.

A further feature of the machine is that it is entirely controlled by a single attendant.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a ditching machine, end frames presenting opposing vertically disposed guides at the ditch side of the machine, a main beam having the ends thereof mounted in the guides and independently vertically adjustable therein, a conveyor passing centrally transversely of the machine and having the ditch end thereof supported by the beam and the road side end adjustably supported and a pair of oppositely disposed upside is free toswing around the pivot shaft wardly converging scoops located at opposite sides of the ditch end of the conveyor and adjustable therewith and having their upper ends overhanging the conveyor and adapted to deliver earth on to the conveyor depending on the direction of movement of the machine along the ditch.

2. In a ditching machine, end frames provided at the ditch side of the machine and having opposing vertically disposed guides, steering wheels supporting the end frames, a main beam passing parallel with the ditch and having the ends thereof terminating in aligned stub shafts, combined guide and bearing spools slidably received within the guides and pivotally carrying the stub shafts, means for independently adjusting the stub shafts upwardly and downwardly within the guides, a transversely extending conveyor positioned centrally of the machine and having one end extending underneath and supported by the main beam and a pair of oppositely disposed spaced scoops located at opposite sides of the conveyor and supported by the main beam.

3. In a ditching machine, similar end frames, steering wheels supporting the end frames, an under frame connecting the end frames, a main beam located at the ditch side of the machine and passing parallel With the ditch and having the ends thereof independently and adjustably supported from the end frames, an upstanding road side frame carried by the end frames, a carrier frame spanning the road side frame and pivotally connected thereto centrally at the bottom, brace bars connecting the carrier frame with the main beam, said brace bars being pivotally connected to the beam and permanently attached to the carrier frame, a bale bar adjustably supported from the carrier frame, a transversely extending conveyor having the road side end supported by the bale bar and the ditch end supported from the main beam and underlying the same and oppositely disposed scoops carried by the main frame and located at the opposite sides of the conveyor and adapted to discharge dirt thereof depending on the direction of travel of the machine.

4;.ln a ditching machine, similar end frames, steering wheels supporting the end frames, an under frame connecting the end frames, a main beam located at the ditch side of the machine and passing parallel withthe ditch and having the ends thereof independently and adjustably supported from the end frames, an upstanding road side frame carried by the end frames, a carrier frame spanning the road side frame and pivotally connected thereto-centrally at the bottom, brace bars connecting the carrier frame with the main beam, said brace bars being pivotally connected to the beam and permanently attached to the carrier frame,

driving connections between the engine and the road side end of the conveyor and a pair of oppositely disposed'scoops located'at the ditch end of. the conveyor andv delivera bale bar adjustably supported from the i ing the earth onto the same, depending on thedirection ofptravel of the machine. I

Signed at Winnipeg, this 10th day of J an-c nary, 1922.

oiinsifnn FREGHETTE.

In the presence of GERALD S. Roxeuncrr, K. BLACK. 

